| Learn how to spice up your graphics by adding simple outlines.
There are some even easier to make the effects in this tutorial,
but I'm going to show you the old way to do it, and probably the
most flexible. |
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 Start
by opening Photoshop and creating a new RGB image. I used the dimensions
of 550x150 in the example. Then create some text by using the Type Tool
(keyboard shortcut T).
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 Next
Ctrl click on the text layer to select it. Then create a new layer
by clicking  .
Click and drag the new layer below the layer that your text is on. Go Select>Modify>Expand
and choose the number of pixels that you want your outline to be. I chose
2 pixels in the example.
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 Now
choose the color that you want your outline to be as the foreground color.
Then hit Alt+Backspace to fill the selection.
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 Right
now you have a basic outline, but there are some more things you can do if
you would like to enhance it a bit. For instance, outer glows or drop
shadows are always nice with outlines. In the example I added an outer
glow, by using the Blending Options (a.k.a. layer effects). To do this,
hit Ctrl+D to deselect your selection and then go right click the
layer you are currently on with your outline (in the Layers Palette) and
choose Blending Options. To see the watch setting I used, you can
click the image to the left.
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 To
further increase the coolness factor, you may want to add a gradient to
your text. I did this by clicking the text layer in the Layers Palette and
then creating a new layer. Next Ctrl click the text layer to make
it a selection and pick the Gradient Tool (it's hidden under the paint
bucket tool in PS 6). Now you can either edit your own gradient or use one
of the predefined gradients. In the example I used a linear gradient  .
Click once and then again in the direction that you want the gradient to
go.
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 One
other popular outline effect is the floating outline. To do this you
choose a large number of pixels when you expand your selection (in step
2). Then Ctrl click your text layer again and expand by a lower
amount of pixels and hit delete (or fill it with another color if you
want). Now your outline will be floating around your text in a groovy way.
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